D’var - Temple Sholom

1 D v a rD v a rA sacred community that embraces, inspires and mattersJUNE / JULY 2017 SIX DAYS OF WARA confession: it is especially hard to be a rabbi these days. In today s political climate, rabbis often find themselves pulled in multiple directions at once. Our social media emphasizes these tensions, allowing people to vent their righteous indignation upon anyone holding a viewpoint different from their own. It gets ugly real Yitz Greenberg once joked that Jewish religious movements are all imperfect. He said: It doesn t matter which Jewish movement you are affiliated with, as long as you re ashamed of it . And so we could probably all benefit from a little more introspection and humility when it comes to the bitter political discourse in our country.

2 The Reform Movement of American Judaism is not perfect, but neither are we, as some claim, the Democratic Party with stories. Our Jewish values focus on compassion for others but that doesn t mean we don t vigorously debate issues; and yet we should not let our families, our friendships, or our congregations be torn apart by those who would pounce on anyone who dares to deviate from their own political orthodoxies. We all need to be careful to ensure that our internal divisions don t consume us. Hence from the pulpit we rabbis need exercise restraint. And yet, rabbis should feel empowered to address the universal values rooted in our Torah that bind us together as days, and as we observe the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War, the tension between universal values and fidelity to the State of Israel has never been more pronounced.

3 On the one hand, my heart goes out to the victims of historical Arab political gamesmanship, using Palestinian refugees as pawns in a propaganda war against Israel. On the other hand, I believe Israel has the right to protect itself from terror and ceaseless hatred from its we could go back in time I would hope Israel would have agreed with David Ben Gurion, who instructed the Israeli government after the Six Day War to give back all the territories, save Jerusalem. They certainly have caused more problems as well as more bloodshed and heartbreak than anyone could have yet, on this side of history, all I can hope for is that against reasonable hope younger Palestinians will realize Israel is an existential reality and a partner for peace, not an eternal enemy.

4 In the meantime, I hope America stands by Israel, supporting her right to exist and praying that the universal values of compassion and respect for human life will be observed here and seven thousand miles away in our eternal Sholom ,Rabbi Edwin s the Rabbi Reading?You Were Never in Chicago NEIL STEINBERGAn outsider, and Jewish, story of moving to Chicago and falling in love with this challenging and wonderful Monday Meal a Great Success!Thanks to the generous donation by Larry and Carol Levy, in memory of Eadie Levy, our second annual Mother s / Parent s Day Monday Meal was a great success. We served more than 100 Rabah, thank you, to our dedicated volunteers, who supported this great evening!

5 If you would like to be involved with our Monday Meal program, or another Social Justice initiative, please contact Toby Sanders at 773-435-1536 or RabbiEdwin GoldbergKevin & Melissa Igersheim (Samantha & Eric )Dmitriy Rokhfeld & Melissa WuJon SinerNew MembersMay 6 | Roslyn Roni Mintz Grandmother of Pam (Bryan) Lookatch; mother of Alan MintzMay 19 | Percy Burton Revels Father of Eric Revels (Pamela Narins)Of Blessed MemoryM AYMay 9 | Michael Block Father of Jennifer SkokJUNEJune 1 | Peter Astrug Brother of Dr. Lauren AstrugJune 6 | Charlotte Schwartz Grandmother of Alyson PraterJune 9 | Marlene Weisman Grandmother of Josh DolginJune 12 | Juan Ramon Guerrero Friend of Ezra MeadorsJune 12 | Christopher Andrew Leinonen Friend of Ezra MeadorsJune 13 | Nona Leland Grandmother of Stacey DombarJune 13 | Dolores Stillman Mother of Mindy StillmanJune 21 | Sylvia Weintraub Grandmother of Aaron MidlerJune 24 | Patrick Barrett Friend of Howard ZwirnJune 28 | Vicki Stone Olt Mother of Jason OltJULYJuly 9 | Henri Wouters Uncle of Philippe GeyskensJuly 11 | Ruth Galey Grandmother of Gretchen HammondJuly 13 | Jerome Glick Father of Dr.

6 Cheryl McEneaneyJuly 17 | Phyllis Ellis Mother of David Ellis; Sister of Babette Hyman; Aunt of Lawrence HymanJuly 20 | Gary Toback Father of Jonathan TobackJuly 25 | Jay Diamond Father of Caryn GallopJuly 25 | Sander Kushner Father of Dr. Marla KushnerYahrzeits / First Year2 | Temple Sholom | D VARApr. 23 | Ma ayan Eckstein & Rabbi Scott Gellman Mazal tov on their wedding May 7 | Rabbi Scott Gellman Mazal tov on his ordinationMazal TovLooking forward to 2017 Junior Kindergarten Graduation!FRIDAY | JUNE 2 | 4:00 PMOur Children Will Perform the Following Songs: Shehecheyanu Blessing Short Speech You and I Will Change the World Next Year Shema Israel Blessing Hatikvah (Israel s National Anthem) Pledge of AllegianceGuest of HonorMrs.

7 Roz SuperaThank You For Letting Us Be Part Of Your Children s Lives!Worship ScheduleFRI DAY | JUNE 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, JULY 7, 14, 21, 28 5:45 AM Wine & Cheese Reception 6:15 PM Shabbat Service, Oneg to followSATURDAY | JUNE 3, 10, 17*, 24, JULY 1*, 8*, 15*, 22*, 29* 9:00 AM Minyan Service *No 10:30AM service scheduledSpecial ServicesFRIDAY | JUNE 2 7:45 PM Or Chadash ShabbatFRIDAY | JUNE 9 7:45 PM Board ShabbatFRIDAY | JUNE 16 6:15 PM Family-Friendly Congregational Shabbat Service Featuring an OSRUI/Camp SendoffFRIDAY | JUNE 23 5:00 PM Or Chadash Pride Award Reception & ServiceFRIDAY | JULY 7 7:45 PM Or Chadash ShabbatWe will welcome with open arms the new class of Gan Shalom children this blessings are with our Gan Shalom children who are graduating June 2!

8 Mazal Tov!June 3 | Maya CohenPARE NTSM arci & Josh Cohen SIBLINGSZoe & MaxSCHOOL Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day SchoolMIT Z VAH PROJECTV olunteered at LEEP Forward Summer Camp for young children with developmental differences June 10 | Sarah RubinovPARE NTSPaul Rubinov & Marina RaykinSIBLINGS amuel SCHOOLThe Latin School of ChicagoMIT Z VAH PROJECTV olunteered at Gan Shalom & Monday Meals at Temple SholomJune 24 | Beila CohenPARE NTSAdam & Jamie CohenSIBLINGSYael & EzraSCHOOLTaft Academic CenterMIT Z VAH PROJECTS oles4souls collects shoes and gives them to others in needB nai MitzvahThe Gan Shalom Children Celebrated & Learned All About Yom Ha atzma utJunior kindergarten

9 Singing with their handmade flagsAriel dressed as an Israeli soldierChildren baked a cake and sang Happy Birthday to IsraelMAY 2017 | 3 For more information about Gan Shalom, please contact Heidi Cooper, Director of Early Childhood Education at 773-525-4867 or to share? Email | Temple Sholom | D VARLast day of religious school What a great year of learning about Derekh Eretz! I am so excited to be spending June 18 July 2 at URJ Camp OSRUI with 23 campers from Temple Sholom . (There s still a few open spots if your child wants to join me!) While I am on paternity leave in July, Stacy Charnay will be around to answer your questions about education, including Religious School registration.

10 Stay tuned for our 2017 18 Religious School guide and Adult Education curriculum brochure coming in August. We are excited to welcome Caleb Bromberg to the team as our new Youth Engagement and Curriculum Coordinator! Jay Rapoport, MARED irector of Lifelong LearningLifelong LearningCrown Family High School and friends at Kabbalah Torah graduation ShabbatGraduation Speech by Orr Shalom President Sydney BaerOver the past 11 years at Temple Sholom and countless educational experiences and trips, I have found that Tikkun Olam is one of my favorite Jewish values. Through my senior seminar studies with Rabbi Goldberg and Rabbi Conover, I have begun to consider which qualities I will find within myself and use in order to work together with the world to create change and also a better life for myself.